the gathering

The word "tournament" echoed in Jack's mind, striking a chord. 'Finally,' he thought, his pulse quickening with anticipation. This was exactly the event he'd been waiting for—a chance to assess the nobles of each kingdom, to measure himself against future rivals. His smirk deepened as he envisioned the scene.

'Now I'll get to see all those fools who might pose a threat down the road. I'll finally understand how far I am from truly surpassing them.' Jack's excitement simmered beneath his cold exterior. In Asriel's life, this tournament had been a pivotal moment, an opportunity Asriel had squandered. But Jack intended to approach it differently. He saw it as the beginning of something larger—an arena where alliances and hostilities would silently take shape. 'If only Asriel had taken advantage of it, he might've saved himself a lot of trouble.'